Working as Management on a Psych. Ward could be a very stressful job, especially when it was time to be reviewed by the Joint Commission. If they found huge errors in record keeping or patient care, the hospital could be fined, or worse...shut down.

One time we were preparing to be reviewed and had a few weeks to "review ourselves" to prepare for that stressful day. Whenever a Doctor gave an "order" the RN would log it in the patient chart and then follow through and make it happen. Usually the orders were for various treatments, visitation, or medications. But the nurses were trained that only Doctors could give orders. Well, not the unit I worked on. This should have been easy. But silly me, I didn't clarify D O C T O R. So, one day I was reviewing charts and I see a "DR" order for some sort of testing. The Doctor who ordered this was a Psychologist. I flew off the handle and asked, "who's the idiot who wrote this as an order"? Yes, there was an answer. A RN answered, I'm the idiot, and it wasn't very nice for you to call me an idiot. She of course took off with that and lost the whole concept of error. I immediately apologized for calling her an idiot and tried to redeem myself. Not gonna happen. Not with this RN.

A few days later we had a staff meeting. We reviewed the rules again, and by this time everyone knew I lost my cool. I reviewed Dr's orders and this RN raised her hand. She stated that "some people" shouldn't call other people names. I quickly became defensive and said....I didn't call you an idiot, I asked who's the idiot and you volunteered. There were a few snickers and chuckles and the conversation was dropped. I publically apologized once more.

The last topic of discussion was rules for the units and the fact that we didn't want to allow SWEARING. Nothing good happens from swearing and things usually escalate. Well you can probably guess what happens next. My favorite RN raises her hand again, and asks what swear words am I referring to. I looked over at my supervisor, and he nodded. I said every swear word I could think of. It was so freeing, and ridiculous at the same time. It was then that I realized that everything must be idiot proof in management. I think my hatred for managment began. I preferred the easier job. Working with patients.